The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1887-01-11

ness KNOWS now Slau ia DC to soil 'cm
if I had the chanccl l amt WIN, no.
howw
Miss Ellis gave a prodigious sniff.
"Don't you fetch that there truck
inside of tho door-yard, 'Liakiml" said
she. "Jest dump 'em on the roadside
and let the neighbors' hogs eat 'em ur
as quick as they camp
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of a tin.
pcddler coming along ON the other side
of the street, and engaging his help
meets attention, to smuggle in the load
of pumpkins,
II won't waste 'cm anyway" said he.
'1f anybody's hogs is to eat 'em, it may
as we'll be mine"
That afternoon, when he came in to
supper, a thing happened which had
never before bcfallcn him in all his mar
ricd life.
He found the tea-kettle cold, the Ora.
ham gems unbakcd, the table unspread
and his wife crying %piteously.
"Eh?" said Eliakim, blankly. "What
in-all-creation's-thc matter now7 You
amt sick, be you, Loisy"
eyes, I bel" sobbed Mrs. Ellis,
"Heartsick, Liakim. Oh, what hev ]
done2 I've sold them old gray pant.
o'yourn to the tin pcddlcr, and never re.
mcmbcred how I'd put that there hundred
dollar coupon bond you gave me to keep,
in the pocket, because 1 calculated no
burglars would take a pair dragged old
panst. Oh, dear oh, dearl"
For one minute Eliakim Ellis stood
silent. a hundred dollars was q
hundred dollars to this rd-workina
man, who could only save and scrnpe by
Titles.
But he looked at Louisa's pale, woe.
bcgonc face, and his great, tender heart
rose up within him like the pillows of
the sea.
Don't fret, Loisy, my GAL" he said,
chccrfully. 1T was only an accident.
faint with frcttin' about" And he
bent down and kissed her forehcad--a rare
occurrence in their undcmonstrative
household. "Wc'll go to work and make
it up ns fast rs possible, my dear"
ooh, 'Liakim" sobbed the good wife,
81 don't deserve you should be so good
to me. Pm a cross, sco.din' crectur,
and"
Tut. tut, tut" goodhumoredly inter-
rupped her husband. 'Guess I amt
goin' to hev my wife abused this Away"
"And I'm sorry I spoke so short about
them pumpkins" added Louisa, dole
fully.
Mr.. Ellis whistlcd under his breath,
He was almost disposed now, to regret
hat he had paid out that dollar for the
Widow Hepsy's pumpkins.
However, it's DONE" he said to him
sell, 'and it can't be undone. Loisy'd
best be left in the dark, 1 guess, about
it."'
He was alertly kindiing the fire, while
Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about, making pre-
partitions for the evening meal, when
there was a lively tattoo, played by q
very energetic pair of knucklcs on the
door outside.
"Come in!" shouted he.
And who should make his appearance
but the tin-peddler himself.
"Hello, squirrel" said be. "Guess
there's been a mistake somewhere. I
amt buyin' up Government coupon
bonds. Pm in the tin trade. I found
this 'cre in your old pockets. So 1 al
lowed it was best to bring it back right
away"
He held out the folded slip of parch-
ment. Eliakim looked oddly mt it.
Fetch on Diogcnes and his lanternl"
said he. 81 calc'late here's the honest
man at lastl"
"Get out" said the tin-pcddler. ri
don't want none O. your four-syllabled
fun poked at me. But I tell you what I
dew want. Them there pumpkins that
you was cartin' in when I exchanged a
saucepan and two clippers for them gray
pants with your good lady, I'll give you
five cents apiece for 'em."
"Donel" cried Farmer Ellis, ~ioyfully.
"There's to be a big dinner up to
Staplcses HILL" went on the in-peddler.
And they're goin' to bake two hundred
pumpkins-pies, and all the pork and
beans that's to be had. And there's
goin' to be a corner i'll pumpkins. I've
got my wagon out here, SO I guess we'll
load up right away"
And thus the hundred dollar coupon